Halliburton has announced the release of the CALIBR engineered flowback service, which applies advanced diagnostics and a collaborative workflow to continuously manage flowback operations to improve well productivity. It also helps maximize water recovery and reduce damage to fractures caused during drawdowns.
Flowback is a procedure to recover fracturing fluid and remove other wellbore debris after a service is performed. Traditionally, flowback planning is designed to achieve high initial production; however, there is a limited understanding of its overall effect on the well completion. Aggressive flowback strategies have been shown to negatively impact fracture connectivity over the long term, which can result in decreased production.
The CALIBR service is performed by acquiring real-time surface data during flowback operations, analyzing this data to determine reservoir response and recommending adjustments for optimization of recovery and long-term performance.
Halliburton collects data through the SPIDR, Self Powered Intelligent Data Retriever, which produces high resolution well pressure information and provides greater insight allowing the service to be tailored across rigs.
“CALIBR is a first of a kind service that combines multiple areas of expertise, including data acquisition and real-time measurement, that will help operators improve the long-term productivity of their assets,” said Grant Roscoe, V.P. of Halliburton Testing and Subsea.
CALIBR has been applied successfully across unconventional resource plays and is globally available.
Halliburton recently partnered with an operator in the Permian basin to demonstrate the advantages of implementing an optimized flowback strategy to increase productivity. The well was drilled in what was believed to be marginal acreage, but by using CALIBR, the operator was able to complete the well with the highest productivity index within their portfolio.
OVERVIEW
Flowback programs on multi-stage horizontal wells in unconventional reservoirs are often completed without a sufficient understanding of how the flowback could affect the long-term performance of the well. Aggressive flowback strategies have been shown to damage fracture conductivity and reduce well performance.
Halliburton’s CALIBRSM engineered flowback service helps improve well performance by reducing formation and completion damage caused by harmful drawdown practices. The CALIBR service applies diagnostic evaluation techniques to continuously manage flowback operations and improve well productivity.
The CALIBR service employs a collaborative workflow incorporating Halliburton’s dedicated reservoir engineering team and flowback field personnel. This process utilizes flowback and SPIDR? gauge data to analyze well performance and manage choke scheduling. Halliburton’s flowback personnel undergo specialized training to understand the impacts of flowback operations to mitigate completion damage while optimizing well performance. The CALIBR service has been successfully implemented across a variety of unconventional formations.
Flowback programs on multi-stage horizontal wells in unconventional reservoirs are often completed without a clear understanding of how the flowback could affect the long-term performance of the well. Aggressive flowback strategies have been shown to damage fracture conductivity and reduce well performance. With CALIBR service you can manage flowback operations and improve well productivity.
CALIBR flowback service is executed following these three main steps:
Measure
We use our SPIDR? gauge to acquire high resolution, high frequency data. With SPIDR, we not only provide bottomhole pressures, but also identify and mitigate possible damage arising from common flowback operational practices. Additionally, our industry best flowback equipment and team of experts, which includes field personnel and reservoir engineers, provide you with a comprehensive flowback solution.
Analyze
An analysis of well performance guides continuous choke management to avoid completion damage. Real-time management is essential to maintaining the effectiveness of the completion and maximizing the long term well performance. Each job is tailored based on completion design, field knowledge, productivity, and prior services performed.
Optimize
The CALIBR flowback service is an iterative process that optimizes well results by continuously measuring, analyzing and adjusting the flowback in order to improve completion effectiveness and increase well productivity. By implementing the CALIBR service, we are able to work with you to maximize the economic value of your wells and improve your cost per BOE.
FEATURES
- Reservoir engineers specialized in flowback management and analysis
- Active flowback management based on well performance
- High resolution pressure data acquisition utilizing the SPIDR? gauge
- Cutting-edge portfolio of flowback equipment
- Specially trained field personnel
- Post flowback analysis to quickly evaluate completion effectiveness
- Production data analysis to assess reservoir properties
BENEFITS
- Reduce completion damage caused by harmful flowback practices
- Improve well performance
- Maximize water recovery
- Identify damage causing practices with the high resolution SPIDR gauge
- Improved decision making through a multidisciplinary collaborative process
APPLICATION
CHALLENGE
A customer in the Permian Basin asked Halliburton to help flow back a well in a new area by utilizing the CALIBR Engineered Flowback service. This new acreage was considered marginal. The customer challenged Halliburton to implement the CALIBR service and compare results with a nearby well that had similar design and completion, which was flowed back by a different service provider.
- Improve short- and long-term well performance
- Reduce damage to the completion and formation
SOLUTION
Halliburton leveraged the expertise of its reservoir engineers and senior field personnel to implement a flowback program specific to the well’s characteristics. A full suite of flowback equipment was utilized, along with a SPIDR? pressure gauge. The high resolution SPIDR pressure data was used to model bottomhole pressure and detect any potential causes of completion damage. The CALIBR service was employed to continuously analyze changes in well performance. This analysis was used to optimize the choke schedule and manage the pressure drawdown, allowing the well’s response to drive the flowback strategy. The CALIBR service enabled Halliburton engineers to identify and reduce potential damage and to evaluate completion effectiveness.
- Design a customized flowback plan
- Utilize CALIBRSM service for diagnostic analysis for real-time flowback optimization
- Monitor flowback with Halliburton equipment, including a SPIDR? high-resolution pressure gauge to monitor surface pressures
RESULTS
With the insight and execution of the CALIBR Engineered Flowback service, Halliburton was able to deliver a better well with the highest productivity index of any in the customer’s portfolio. The well continued to flow at higher rates, delaying the necessity for artificial lift. The resultant production gain proved to the client that this field was not marginal and was worth further development.
- Higher-than-expected productivity index and initial production were achieved
- Potential damage-causing practices identified
- New flowback best practices discovered